Evidence of meeting #53 for Public Accounts in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was infrastructure.
A video is available from Parliament.
12:50 p.m.
NDP
12:50 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indigenous Services
It was the Auditor General.
12:50 p.m.
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
Exactly. And it's a damning result. It's important that Canadians understand that you see that clearly, as the head of this department, as its official, and that you take it seriously and know this is horrific. All of us, whether members of the government or members of the opposition, agree that it's horrific. Even members of the government understand—elected members of the Liberal Party understand—that it's important to get accountability on this. It's important, though, that Canadians also see that same will reflected in its ministry.
When I asked just previously who you thought was responsible for this failed audit, you said it wasn't the government. I can bring up the quote. I can ask you in the next round of questioning as well, but I'll give you another opportunity. Who do you think the Auditor General is talking about when she says there's been a failure of the government and the “government needs to be held accountable”?
12:50 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indigenous Services
My response was not that the government is not accountable. The government is definitely accountable. We're here presenting to you. My view was that it was not solely the government that is accountable for emergency management in Canada or for this particular audit. I personally am definitely responsible for administering and making sure the management action plan, in response to the audit, is implemented and monitored.
12:55 p.m.
NDP
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Mr. Desjarlais, you have time for a brief comment only. I'm afraid that's your time.
12:55 p.m.
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
She said the government failed to serve Canada's indigenous people. Would you agree with the Auditor General?
12:55 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indigenous Services
The Auditor General said that in her remarks, but it's not in the particular audit. I'm responding to the audit. I'm not going to respond to the Auditor General's speech.
12:55 p.m.
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
You're not going to respond to the Auditor General? Wow.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Thank you very much.
We turn now to Mr. Kram.
You have the floor for five minutes.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Kram Conservative Regina—Wascana, SK
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I would like to thank my colleague, Kelly McCauley, for being so generous in sharing his time.
To the witnesses, I would like to return to the Kashechewan First Nation in northern Ontario.
First of all, let's rewind a bit. This is the first nation that has been evacuated every year for the past decade, which I find embarrassing. What I find particularly concerning in the report is that this is listed as a success story, because instead of being evacuated to neighbouring communities, they are now being evacuated only to different areas within the first nation.
I wasn't able to get a final answer from the minister. Is the plan going forward for the Kashechewan First Nation to just continue to be evacuated every year indefinitely within their first nation?
12:55 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indigenous Services
The plan going forward is to work very closely with the Kashechewan First Nation on its vision of how to move forward, its requirements, its needs and its priorities.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Kram Conservative Regina—Wascana, SK
Is the Kashechewan First Nation happy with the status quo?
12:55 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indigenous Services
I'm not going to try to speak on behalf of the Kashechewan First Nation, except to give some degree of voice to the fact that the Kashechewan First Nation continues to be very active in working with us. We are very close to the ground in meeting with Kashechewan, and we are working with them very closely.
I can't speak on their behalf specifically.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Kram Conservative Regina—Wascana, SK
Okay.
Has this particular first nation communicated with you about a desire to not be evacuated every year?
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Kram Conservative Regina—Wascana, SK
Okay.
Is there a plan moving forward for them to not be evacuated every year?
12:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Regional Operations Sector, Department of Indigenous Services
I'll just emphasize that, as I said earlier, the “on the land” initiative is at the request of Kashechewan First Nation. We are responding to their request to be evacuated on the land.
As I mentioned, we have officials in the community next week to go through the plan for this spring's approach. In terms of the possible relocation that you mentioned, there is a steering committee that meets regularly, as we mentioned when we were here in November. That steering committee continues to meet. There is a new chief in Fort Albany, which is a very close first nation that is also impacted by these events. It has a very close relationship with Kashechewan. Those discussions continue, and we'll continue to take the lead from leadership in terms of where they seek to take this forward.
Thank you.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Kram Conservative Regina—Wascana, SK
I would like to turn now to the Peguis First Nation in Manitoba, which is outlined on page 17 of the report.
I was concerned about the report indicating that.... This community was evacuated in 2011. Over 10 years later, 86 residents were still unable to return home because of insufficient housing. This report is a year old.
Are 86 residents of that first nation still unable to return home due to insufficient housing?
12:55 p.m.
Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Regional Operations Sector, Department of Indigenous Services
We'll need to confirm the exact number for you. I don't have the exact number with me.
Certainly, we are working very closely with Peguis leadership, making sure that people can get home as soon as they can. They have had multiple floods. That's why we're working with them on prevention and mitigation, and in terms of housing.
We're finding ways to build back better, so that houses are not on the flood plain. We can move them to a different location. They have lot servicing and those types of things. It's not just a matter of moving the house from one location to the other. There's a lot of support networking that goes into that plan.
Certainly, we're advancing with Peguis on a community plan to respond to these repeated incidents that they face.
1 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Kram Conservative Regina—Wascana, SK
Okay.
It's taken 12 years to build houses for these 86 residents.
How many more years do you think it will take before these houses can be built for these 86 residents?
1 p.m.
Deputy Minister, Department of Indigenous Services
I don't necessarily think we've set a particular date for when all the houses are going to be done. What we can do is come back to you with more specific details on where the housing situation is currently.
1 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Kram Conservative Regina—Wascana, SK
Yes. If you could submit an answer in writing, I would find that helpful.
Mr. Chair, I believe that's my time.